Belichick told New England reporters Monday morning (via Pro Football Talk): “It is a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib. No attempt to get open. And I’ll let the league handle the discipline on that play. It’s not for me to decide, but it’s one of the worst plays I’ve seen. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

It was not one of the worst plays Belichick has seen. Granted, no team loves the pick play like the Broncos. And there have been similar midfield collisions this season. But Welker’s explanation, does jibe with the video:

“It was one of those plays where it’s kind of a rough play and I was trying to get him to go over the top, and I think he was thinking the same thing and wanted to come underneath and we just kind of collided,” Welker said after the game in front of his locker. “It wasn’t a deal where I was trying to hit him or anything like that. I hope he’s OK, he’s a great player and a big part of their defense.”

The video makes it look like Welker went underneath to deliver contact. But Welker said he went underneath to avoid contact. That’s plausible, especially for a 185-pound guy who recently suffered two concussions. And it was Welker who got knocked back first. He braced — not delivered — a blow with his shoulder before contact.

Cover for the Patriots to do dirty plays in the future. Really, Bellichick should be fined by the league for this brazen lie coming from sick and ugly projection.

FenwayGreg

Its obvious Welker changes his route to go after Talib, he had no character when he was in New England, he has none now. That hit was the Great Gazoo’s only contribution to the game.

Rick Bellucci

Enjoy watching Denver (and Welker) in the SB. Fire up that big screen.

I Heart Peyton Manning

Yeah and we can enjoy losing. I hope the refs don’t notice all the illegal picks that we do. Just sayin

Cougs_suck

Again, it’s ok for the Patriots to hit Broncos DBs I guess, but not the other way around. We know the rules are different for New England thanks for re-affirming that.

Chris Hall

Greg, greg, greg… I agree with your synopsis of the play but to say that Welker had no character while he was with NE is just ridiculous, and frankly, I’m not sure what you’re talking about… maybe you don’t either… sure makes you sound like a bitter loser.

SUnsan

Your coach should be fined for making such ridiculous accusation. It’d be beautiful if Welker sued him for defamation!

Suck it BILL!

Cougs_suck

I guess he’s conveniently ignoring the fact that just a few plays before this one Edelman made the same hit on DRC. Shut up Belichick you cheating whiner, you haven’t won anything without your camera and that’s a fact.

Coloradan_by_Choice

Seems like sour grapes from a poor loser. I can’t imagine the league will do anything to Welker for the hit. it’s part of the game. Considering the history of the Patriot organization, Belichick has no room to criticize anyone. Whiner.

Rick Bellucci

It’s hilarious to hear Belichick pissing and moaning about unethical play. Look in the mirror boss.

willcommentforfood

He’s a sore loser, and you know he would send out a player to do something like that, so he thinks other coaches would. Ugly projection. Fox isn’t capable of doing it. If he were, he’d use Decker or Mitch Unrein instead of a double concussed valuable receiver. The charge has zero merit.

Eye In the Sky

FenwayGreg – Welker had no character when he was in New England and spent how many years there? Seems Bill sorta likes that kind of guy, huh?

NotSure

There is no way that Welker intended to injure Talib. That injury was a freak injury from a typical hit on the field. As for intent, no one gave up any ground for that position on the field. I’m hearing sports commentators say Talib was in a “defenseless” or compromised position, which is garbage. Defenseless is when someone is going up to catch a ball or in a position to make a play on the ball, not just running across the field. The hit was shoulder to shoulder. The problem is that Belichick can’t stand being outplayed physically but especially tactically and strategically in all aspects of a game plan and execution.

Watson5665

Regardless of intent, they bounced off each other shoulder to shoulder. A DB would willingly initiate harder hits than that 30 times a game. If he’s THAT fragile he wouldn’t have lasted another five minutes anyway.

Welker might have been trying to alter Aquib’s course, but he’s outweighed by a LOT. The idea that his goal was to “take him out” is comical. I would have thought it more likely for Welker to be taken out in the process.

Cougs_suck

It really is hilarious that anyone thinks the Broncos were so concerned about Talib that they’d go out there and take him out, especially with the smallest, most concussion prone receiver on the roster. He’s one guy, the Broncos have more than one receiver to throw to.

willcommentforfood

It is absurd. Of course, the loss for the Patriots could never be that Bellichick was out game planned by Fox, the players outplayed the Patriots, and Manning having 8 viable healthy receiving targets on every play confounding how to defend against it in the whole league, no it must be that Fox sent out Welker (??!!??) to take out Talib, just like Bellichick would send out a player to knock out an opponent’s player.

Gene

Do the Patriots just assume that they will make it to the super bowl every year. I for one am tired of seeing them in post season play. I believe Belichick has 5 rings. Does he need some more for his toes. Boo hoo Patriots you lost.

armoderate

I guess Klis missed a few plays before when New England tried to knock out DRC. Thankfully, he was still able to play. Klis needs to learn that retaliation is part of the game. You think Seattle is going to be playing “within your genteel rules”? Get real.

Chris Hall

Hilarious to listen to all of the “unbiased” here. If you can say with a straight face that Welker did not intentionally impede Talib, then you’re clearly wearing your Bronco’s footie pajamas. Don’t know why there was no flag on the play. It was more than a pick… a pick is when you get in someone’s path. It’ pretty clear from the replay, Welker altered his own path, and lit him up.

Cougs_suck

Hilarious to hear from the “unbiased” Pats fans who ignore the fact that YOUR team did the same thing a few plays before, luckily our guy was able to come back. Don’t whine about something your own team does.

Welker isn’t the type of guy to intentionally try to hurt anyone, don’t let the fact that he ditched you guys for Denver force you to make things up.

Chris Hall

Ahh,, the old “he did it first” defense… classic… I’m not sure where in my post I said Wes tried to injure Talib. What I said was, what I think is clear in the replay. Welker cut around Thomas, altering his path and nailed Talib, who was in coverage. I don’t know how you can look at that replay and come to a different conclusion. Haven’t seen the reply of the previous play that you’re referring to so can’t really compare them,,,

Chris Hall

Also, don’t know what I made up… I respect Welker, who may be the toughest SoB I’ve ever seen play. I was sorry to see him leave, but I’m sure not bitter about it. That’s showbiz, and the way the Pats run things… whether I like it or not…

Nivi Solis

What happened happened… If you have ever played football you know split second decisions are always a factor – hell if you have even walked down a narrow hallway and someone is coming at you, half the time you are going to accidentally step in the direction the person coming at you is.

Chris Hall

Hilarious to listen to all of the “unbiased” here> If you can say with a straight face tha Welker did not intentionally impede Talib, then you’re clearly wearing your Bronco’s footie pajamas. Don’t know why there was no flag on the play. It was more than a pick… a pick is when you get in someone’s path. It’ pretty clear from the replay, Welker altered his path, and lit him up.

HoppITUp

What I see is Welkers head coming around looking for the ball right before the collision.
What I also hear is whining from bellicheat and the his whining fans.

And you are wearing your bitter patriots haven’t won a SuperBowl since belicheat got caught cheating colored glasses. His body and head is turning when they hit. Of course Talib is so soft that he gets taken out by a 180lb receiver. Patsies are soft, belicheat and mchoodie have been exposed. You been sniffing skip bayless undies too much.

Chris Hall

Looks to me like his head turns upon contact. You’re making it sound like Welker wasn’t looking and that’s why he ran into him. Which frankly, is just plain ridiculous. I am a Pats fan and not bitter at all. How could I be? They’ve been to 5 Super Bowls and 8 Conference Championship games in the last dozen or so years.

Chris Hall

…and the whole “he hasn’t won anything since he got caught cheating” is just lame, and ignores the fact that no team has won more games since “Spygate”. Perhaps they haven’t won a Super Bowl because it’s really hard to do. Nobody should understand that better than you. After all, how many titles (or even Conference Championship games) have the Broncos won in the aforementioned timeframe? I think we know the answer

I Heart Peyton Manning

I agree with you wholeheartedly!!!

chewinsmoke

To suggest that Welker intentionally tried to knock out Aqib is absurd. Yeah – little Wes Welker, after two concussions, is out there trying to knock out players twice his size. Belichick hates Welker and used this play as a final jab towards him. Nothing more, nothing less. Belichick is a crybaby whiner. Have fun watching the Super Bowl – from your couch.

Denver Goddess

Vic Lombardi explained it best: It wasn’t an illegal pick AND New England did the same thing on the previous series. This is sour grapes.

windbourne

belichick is not just a cheater, but a poor sportsman as well.
The man is so much like his fans.

Gary Harkins

just wait Denver. Wes came through with the dirty play to propel you to the super bowl. Seattle will crush you and dropsy (aka wes welker) will revert back to his old ways. I won’t even go on about Peyton (the greatest regular season quarterback)

Gary Harkins

you guys are boring. time to go to seattle’s paper and tell them how to beat peyton. just move him off of his spot and he’ll throw interceptions.

HoppITUp

Here is how you beat belicheat and brady, take away the cameras. patsies are SOFT!!!

drtacp

Reread the story. Klis says that Aqib intended the hit. Subtle but clear.

drtacp

Belicheat is covering for his “sweep the leg” or “concuss the ex-PAT” order.

John R

What about the same play by Edelman on Rogers-Cromartie. Belicheck is sour grapes. It was the same play. Belicheck hates Welker, Belicheck as Kevin Mannix of the Boston Herald once Said, is Pond Scum. Perfect description of him. Scum

Shawn Paul

How is this different from the pick on DRC?

docRW

Listen, the Broncos won. The Patriots went out of their way to give credit to Manning and the Broncos, I don’t think this is whining. In fact, as much as people hate Belichick, I’ve never heard him call out a player on another team like that. The fact is Welker went flying into Talib knowing he was not the primary on the play and not even looking back for the ball. He might not have been trying to hurt Talib, no one can know his thoughts except him, but he was trying to take him out of the play as roughly as possible. I have a problem with that. You don’t have to go on a suicide mission, as Jim Leonhard described the play, to get a DB off his path. A simple rub will do, the Patriots ran rub plays where there was slight but enough contact to get another receiver open and they got called for it once. The Broncos ran similar plays without slamming into the DB like that. The fact is Welker has been in the league long enough to know how to run a pick or rub in a more subtle way. He wanted to blow up Talib, either to hurt him or to make him have his head on a swivel for future plays to make him less effective. It looks like the goal was to take out the Patriot’s best DB, who just happened to shut down DT in the first matchup. Players get hurt all the time, but when an opposing team’s top defensive player gets taken out intentionally its hard to feel good about the victory.

For everyone here who is slamming Belichick for what he said, listen to it again, he never said that is why the Patriots lost or tried to make an excuse for the loss. He limited his comments to that one play. Look in the mirror before you start blaming him, because it makes it look like you are a pathetic defense attorney trying to get your client off by defaming the witness rather than dealing with the facts. And don’t kid yourself about Fox not doing whatever it takes to win a game. You don’t get to be a head coach in the NFL without being willing to do whatever it takes. There are no choir boys coaching in the NFL. They are all like CEO’s of big companies, ruthless, cutthroat, type AAA people. You want them coaching your team or running your company but don’t invite them to a poker game unless you want to lose your shirt.

As a disinterested (Ravens fan) observer with no love for the Patriots, and while acknowledging that Belichick is a dishonest whiner, Welker’s hit was deliberate and should have been flagged as an illegal pick. The evidence isn’t sufficient to conclude that the hit was an attempt to injure Talib, but it was a dangerous play, and Welker should be fined.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.